Ask any wizened business owner what they think the key to business success is and they will most probably mention the importance of continued innovation. Be it to improve and replace current processes or to develop brand new additions to a business&#; products and services, innovation is a key marker of progression.
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It is of course understandable that dealing with constant change is not an easy path to stay on. With that said, what are the biggest barriers to innovation and how can your company conquer them?
Don&#;t underestimate the significance of organisational work culture when it comes to tackling some of the largest problems faced in your business. Although it may seem secondary, a good organisational culture is critical as it plays a large role in employee motivation. Award-winning author Tristan Boutros highlights that change will only occur if your team feels motivated to change.
To put it simply, why go the extra mile to help the company improve if one is unhappy or finds no purpose in the work that he or she does? Vincent Low, Canon&#;s Director and General Manager, also stresses that the key to building team spirit is constantly fostering a team that believes in the company&#;s business values and is willing to work together to get there. Quoting business guru Peter Drucker on how &#;culture eats strategy for breakfast&#;, Vincent reminds business leaders to show appreciation and give recognition as much as possible. Satisfaction and motivation levels increase when staff are happy and appreciated at work, and leaders need to understand that this tops any business strategy.
In addition to the point above, management also plays a big role in the creation of said office culture. Bad management equals to low company morale; Huffington Post states point blank that:
&#;Process improvement culture must always begin with leadership. Only then will it filter down through the organisation. Without strong leadership at the top, improvement and innovation will inevitably falter.&#;
Micromanagement is rarely beneficial (and almost always, stifling and damaging), so don&#;t expect it to breed creativity and encourage improvement!
Leaders must step up and pave the way to inspire and stir dialogue; set the example you wish to see instead of dictating over your employees. Remember, innovation can only happen when organisations foster a culture where people feel safe to voice their opinions, dialogue is encouraged, and leaders embrace the challenge.
Burrowing into everyday tasks creates a routine; why change things when it all seems to be working out great for now? This is how day-to-day operations become one of the most common yet discreet barriers to innovation.
While settling into a comfortable pattern of getting work done every day can be a good thing, monotonous routine also murders creativity. The state of doing things the same way for a prolonged period of time gives way to the dangers of getting comfortable. Forbes underlines that trying out new things is a worthwhile experiment and investing in the right innovative techniques can give your business the competitive edge it needs to keep up with the times.
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Between creating an open and receptive organisation culture and getting your management team to step up and incite change, innovation also requires investing in new solutions. From procuring hardware that will amp up your internal workflow processes to overhauling your business models, being equipped with the right tools and having a clear strategy for change will set you in the direction to innovate for the better.
Don&#;t know where to start? Here are a few ways to help you and your business kick-start your journey towards innovation:
As technology becomes increasingly crucial to all sorts of business processes, make sure that your business is equipped with the necessary hardware solutions to boost productivity. Not only that, you will also open the doors of possibilities with modern solutions like digitisation. No longer will you be bogged down by old, ancient methods, with technology taking over menial tasks, you&#;ll free up your employees to spend their time wisely and smartly. Over time, you can work towards improving these digital processes as your company familiarises itself with this additional help. Don&#;t forget to keep your employees well educated on technological best practices too!
With the appropriate tech now readily available, you should also look to getting the right business solutions that can help to declutter, save costs and boost efficiency, taking hints from the Netflix organising sensation, Marie Kondo. This is where Canon&#;s Business Solutions like Therefore&#; Document Management Solution and uniFLOW Online Express come in. Apart from being easily installed in any imageRUNNER ADVANCE multifunction device, these solutions bring forth a multitude of benefits from the easy retrieval of digitised files in an in-house Document Service Centre to mail management and cloud storage services. The bottomline: purchase tech that will do all the time-consuming tasks for you, leaving you to be able to prioritise what&#;s important. Now, doesn&#;t that spark joy?
One last tip &#; new tech can be difficult to get used to, especially at the onset. Make sure to work with a partner that will help you get through not only the teething problems, but be there for you throughout as well.
With 40 years of prioritising customer service excellence and countless case studies lauding outstanding service staff, it&#;s safe to say that Canon is no stranger to service excellence &#; we are dedicated to helping businesses develop and progress. Make sure to partner with a team that aligns with your business goals and is able to lend a helping hand to help you go further each time.
Now that you know what&#;s stopping your business from innovating, you can take systematic steps to rectifying them and eventually create a work culture that is not only hungry and curious to improve &#; but most importantly, cultivating a culture that will take your company to greater heights.
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Businesses are looking for ways to increase revenue, reduce expenses, and distinguish their products from competitors in the marketplace. Many businesses follow a "me too" approach by simply copying what others are doing in their market. This approach eliminates creativity from the business development process and forces the company to compete solely on price. In an alternative approach, business leaders can use innovation strategies to increase revenue while creating a competitive edge that sets the company apart from the rest of the market.
Here are 10 reasons why you must start developing an innovation plan today:
1. Increase Revenue - A properly executed innovation plan will produce new products as well as new features for existing products. These new products and features can produce more sales to existing customers and attract new customers. The increased sales produce an increase in revenue that drives company growth.
2. Reduce Expenses - An innovation plan can reduce expenses by streamlining internal business procedures, improving the product development process, and simplifying manufacturing operations. For example, when analyzing existing business procedures, be creative by looking for ways to eliminate steps in the process or automate portions of the procedure.
3. Competitive Edge - Distinguish your business in the marketplace by identifying gaps or unmet needs in the existing products. Create new products or features that address these gaps or unmet needs. If you are first to market with a new product or feature, your business gains a strong competitive advantage.
4. Create a Buzz in the Marketplace - When a competitive edge is established with a "must have" product or feature, companies benefit from valuable word-of-mouth advertising, including social media exposure. This marketplace "buzz" can produce a significant increase in sales and publicity for the business.
5. Team Environment - Teaching everyone in your organization about creativity and innovation helps develop an innovation culture that encourages everyone to work as an "innovation team." Rather than limiting creativity tasks to a few select employees, a successful innovation plan recognizes the creative abilities of all personnel and inspires everyone to participate in creating innovative ideas.
6. Attract Top Employees and Contractors - Many people want to work in a creative and innovative environment. Regardless of industry, less innovative companies are often perceived as "boring" or "old fashioned." When you position your business as an innovative place to work, potential employees and contractors will seek positions with your company. This puts you in a strong position by attracting a large group of potential job candidates when your company has an open position.
7. Attract Investors - Investors look for companies with a strong market position and a competitive edge in their market. A company with a successful history of identifying and leveraging innovative ideas may be of greater interest to potential investors.
8. Position Your Business as an "Innovator" - Innovative businesses in any industry generate attention and publicity. Innovative products cause customers to talk about your products and share information online. Publications write about your company and its products. This attention strengthens your position in the marketplace.
9. Create a Steady Flow of New Ideas - Your innovation plan will encourage all employees to be creative and participate in the development of innovative ideas. These activities, along with innovation contests and other creativity events, will produce a continuous flow of creative ideas for new products and improvements to business procedures.
10. Avoid Being a &#;One Hit Wonder&#; - The flow of creative ideas is often strong when a company is getting started and looking to establish itself with a unique product or service. However, after that first idea is identified and developed, many companies stop the innovation process that created the business success in the first place. Unfortunately, they become &#;one hit wonders.&#; Developing an innovation plan that produces a steady flow of ideas accelerates your company's growth and strengthens its competitive position in the marketplace.
Start creating your Innovation Plan today to grow your business.
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